Wednesday 29 December 2010

Happy New Year

Well Christmas has now passed and I have a couple of weekends off.  Just before Christmas, I arbited / played in our clubs first (hopefully of many) 960 tournaments.  In the spirit of Christmas, here is the report I wrote for the event (it is on the EK Chess Club website, www.ekchess.org.uk)


'Twas the night before Christmas (Eve) and all through the dark
was hardly a sound... well, nothing apart
from the sound of chess clocks being bashed in a fury
As 7 chess players were playing in a hurry.


We all met to play that weird style of chess
called Chess 960. The board is a mess
With none of the pieces on their right squares
How do you play this, everyone glared.

There was Frankie, Jim, Paul, Peter and Tom
Henry and Andy, that made up the throng
of chess players hungry for a night of success.
Of the seven players who would be best?


Round 1 came upon us, but what have we here?
Andy is missing, now that’s really queer.
He’s normally there first, but he’s stuck in the town.
The bus he has taken looks like it’s broken down.


So we gave him the bye, it seemed only fair.
Being an arbiter, he’d sort it when he got there.
The winners that round were Tom, Paul and Jim,
And just as it finished, Andy came in!

Round 2 was upon us, we saw our first draw.
Andy against Tom, it looks like he's thawed!
Paul and Frankie won, with Jim getting the bye,
and some of the positions getting a groan or a sigh.


Onto Round 3, we are getting it, how
these mixed-up positions don't vex us now.
Tom gets the bye, Andy and Jim get wins,
Along with Frankie, the number of leaders thins.

Round 4 and it is Paul's time to rest.
He has the bye, takes photos, the best.
Jim draws with Frankie, Tom wins, what's this?
Andy has gone wrong, Henry wins, Bliss!!


Round 5 and we are now getting the hang
of how this is played, we hardly go wrang.
Peter has the bye, finally a score,
Tom, Andy and Paul win, but they all want more.

Round 6 and there are only 3 left
who can win this and we can find who is best.
Jim loses to Tom, Paul wins against Andy,
Peter beats Henry in a game that was handy.


The last round's upon us, but who here will win?
Will it be Paul or Tom with the biggest grin?
It’s winner take all, who will be left...
After a hard-fought tussle, it was Tom who was best!

In the other games played, Peter and Jim drew
in a very odd ending that caused discussion anew.
Frankie beat Andy with a gorgeous Knight fork
Leaving Andy feeling he was playing like a dork.


So Tom was the winner, with Paul just behind.
Then Frankie, Jim, Andy and I’m sure they won’t mind
if I tell you the two that were taking up the rear
were Peter and Henry, better luck next year.

All in all, a good night was had by the crowd
there was much laughter but it was not too loud.
There is one thing we agree on, with a rather loud cheer
We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

Sunday 12 December 2010

Liverpool Quadrangular 2010 - Day 2

Good Morning, Good Morning, Good Morning, Good....

Well it is Sunday morning and everyone is up bright eyed and bushy tailed.  Well almost...

I heard one of the funniest things in a long time yesterday.  Peter Purland turned to Donald and asked "Are you an arbiter...."  Once Phil and I had picked ourselves up from the floor laughing we set him straight.


U 16's are leading, U14's are 3rd and U12's are second.  Interesting day ahead!


U 16


Ian McDonald 0.5-0.5 Manprees Sanga 1780
Shivan Murdochy 0-1 Arun Mains 1570
Jonny Scott 1-0 Myles Webster 1300
Ali Roy 0.5-0.5 a. cartlidge
Miguel Espinonsa 1-0

Sam Gregory 1-0


4-2





U14


Daniel Thomas 0-1 Leo Tsoi 1570
Kiron Roy 0-1 Mark Kenyon 1710
Peter Sanders 0.5-0.5 James Kenyon 1510
Cristina Espinosa 0-1 Jordan Lewis 1500
Ciaran Jenkins 0.5-0.5 Marcus Rose 1490
Carl Milton 0.5-0.5 Soban Dhir 1300
Andrew McCusker 1-0 Gerrad Varney 930
Stuart Wynne 0-1 Louis Rothwell 640
Rishi Pandya 0-1 Sam Beardsmore 580
Nadia Ameur 0-1 Andrew Fergusson 580

2.5-7.5





U12


Murad Abdulla 0.5-0.5 Michael Flecher 1590
Kai Pannwitz 0.5-0.5 Hardy Crosdale 1520
Fergus Skillen 0-1 Saaras Meehan 1390
Colin Howie 0.5-0.5 Issac Stables 1300
Alexander Bond 0.5-0.5 Metthew Fergusson 1150
Zak Roy 0-1 Daniel Jackton 930
Declan Shafi 0.5-0.5 Owen Robinson 1140
Jamie Underwood 1-0 Jack Healing 950
Andrew Reilly 0-1 Alex Jarvis 880
Rowan Pathi 1-0 Nedy Tsai 880

4.5-5.5









Reserves






Monical Espinosa 0-1 Laura Bond
Kirsty McCusker 1-0 Jennifer Neil 1110
Anna Milton 1-0 Tom Green

Final results


U16 are the winners
U14 came 3rd
U12 were a close 3rd (there was nothing between the first 3 teams)


The bus has left 1/2 hour early  will update as we go along

Further update we left Gretna 30 mins early

Saturday 11 December 2010

Liverpool Quadrangular 2010 - Day 1

Saturday morning at 5 o'clock as the day begins....

Everyone up and breakfasted, unlike the Worlds a couple of years ago there are no cakes (sorry Lisa!).  After breakfast we launched into coaching.  2 hours later and we had to call a halt as we were getting tired.  Everyone is relaxing (except Jacqui who is stressing about the ASDA order not arriving...)

Photos available at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=19974&id=100001639584726&l=14fef32596 and http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20092&id=100001639584726&l=a2e9990a6b As before if you want the full pictures then let me know and I'll send on to you


I'll keep updating as the day goes on.

Round 1 results v Northern England


U 16

Ian McDonald 0-1 Nathan Taylor
Shivan Murdochy 0-1 Jamie Harton
Jonny Scott 0-1 Rachel Cass
Ali Roy 1-0 Ben Scatterwood
Miguel Espinonsa 1-0 Phoebe Price
Sam Gregory 1-0

3-3



 
U14

Daniel Thomas 0.5-0.5 Daniel Lau
Kiron Roy 0-1 Steven Chung
Peter Sanders 0-1 James Walsh
Cristina Espinosa 0.5-0.5 Matthew Fanning
Ciaran Jenkins 1-0 Jake Mantan
Carl Milton 0-1 Andrew Horton
Andrew McCusker 0-1 Matthew Walsh
Stuart Wynn 0-5.0-5 Amol Vani
Nadia Ameur 0-1 Jennifer Neil
Rishi Pandya 1-0

3.5-6.5



U12

Murad Abdullah 0-1 Daniel Abbas
Kai Pannwitz 0.5-0.5 Judd Bennett
Fergus Skillen 0-1 Ravi Mahapatra
Colin Howie 0.5-0.5 Adanish Vani
Alexander Bond 1-0 Alex Kitshoff
Zak Roy 0.5-0.5 Tim Chatys
Jamie Underwood 1-0 Jason Lau
Declan Shafi 1-0 Miles Hemmingway
Andrew Reilly 0-1 Sam Wayman
Rowan Pathi 0-1 Tom Green

4.5-5.5






Reserves

Anna Milton 1-0 Neddy Tsar
Monica Espinosa 1-0 Andrew Fergusson
Matthew Thomas 0.5-0.5 Andrew Willis


Wales game



U 16

Ian McDonald 1-0 Roshan Daniels
Shivan Murdochy 1-0 Megan Owens
Jonny Scott 1-0 Alex Freeland
Ali Roy 1-0 Alex Wills
Miguel Espinonsa 1-0
Sam Gregory 1-0

5-0



U14

Daniel Thomas 0.5-0.5 Philippe Rodgers
Kiron Roy 0-1 Jonathan Bold
Peter Sanders 1-0 Jack Menton
Cristina Espinosa 1-0 William Underwood
Ciaran Jenkins 0-1 Kirstan Prosser
Carl Milton 1-0 Roger Warrington
Andrew McCusker 0.5-0.5 Kate Rebane
Stuart Wynne 0.5-0.5 Issac Mitchell
Rishi Pandya 1-0 Gaine Reid
Nadia Ameur 1-0

6.5-3.5



U12

Murad Abdulla 0.5-0.5 Ben Thomas
Kai Pannwitz 0.5-0.5 Natasha Katrardfe
Fergus Skillen 0-1 Rhys Bennett
Colin Howie 1-0 Jamie Mill-Thomas
Alexander Bond 0.5-0.5 Owen Mennet
Zak Roy 0.5-0.5 Assa Wang
Declan Shafi 1-0 Rhydan Downing
Jamie Underwood 1-0 Ellis Bird
Andrew Reilly 0.5-0.5 Harrold Anpik
Rowan Pathi 1-0

6.5-3.5






Reserves













Laura Bond 0-1 Tom Green
Matthew Thomas 1-0 B Scattergood
Kirsty McCusker 1-0 Rachel Skillen
Sam Gregory 0-1 Miguel Espanosa
Nadia Ameur 1-0  Monical Espinosa
Rowan Pathi  1-0  Anna Milton











And to round off the evening we had a doubles tournament.  The winners were Jonny and Ian















Friday 10 December 2010

Liverpool Quadrangular 2010 - Day 0

Here I am, head in hands, turn my face to the wall....  We're off to Liverpool today for the annual quadrangular (hereafter known as the quad to save my spell checker).

By now everyone at the Dundee part of the trip will be getting ready to move off to the coach and they will start heading down.  I'm leaving London at 19:00 so will be one of the last to get there.  I am really looking forward to it.

There is a real sense of surrealism when you move between tournaments like this.  This afternoon I am surrounded by players like Anand, Carlsen and Kramnik.  Tonight it will be Daniel and Matthew, Sam etc.  I prefer the latter set as they have a sense of humour!

Jacqui has just texted me to say that the coach left Bothwell services on schedule

If I had to chose a list of things that would be hell on earth to do.  Travelling though London during rush hour would probably occupy the first 3 places.  Tonight was no different.  I felt really sorry for the family that had the misfortune to catch the ignoramus express with me to London Euston.  They had a family probably ages with my own, a young 4 or 5 year old who was getting battered by people who just did not care a jot for anyone but themselves.  I had enough and got out my walking stick which I had folded neatly into my bag.  Anyone who got too close to her got a swift rap on the ankles.  I put the bag on my back and she used the space it created.  How can people be so stupid...


I am now sitting in first class on the virgin express to Liverpool Lime street.  I don't normally travel this way but when your travel is paid for for doing a major event in London, it seems rude not to.  I love travelling by train.  It is by far the best way.  The food is good, the company even better.  Some Joker put me in the quiet carriage.

Last update from Jac is they are making good time and expect to be in on time.  That is provided the driver doesn't get lost.  I am not on the bus this time to navigate!

20:20 and Phil just sent me a text to let you know they are 33 miles away, I am in a place called Nuneaton.  I guess they are all hungry there then...

I arrived safely (which is more than can be said for the asda order).  Everyone here, fed and in bed.  see you all tomorrow  

The London Chess Classic, Day 4 (my final day :( )

Gutted I am going home today.  Miss Eilidh, Euan and Karen but I am loving it here.  Setup today went well.  Had a good chat with Mark Crowther about TWIC as they are having server issues, also had a really good chat with Albert about DGT.

Really hope today goes better than yesterday.  We have the alternate feed ready should the site buckle under the sheer weight of people watching the game.  Emergency hamster is on standbye just in case :)

Gutted#2 IA David Sedgewick was taken ill and not able to attend today.  Had I not been heading up to Liverpool I would have been the assistant arbiter today.  Ah well C'est la Vie.

Just looked at the live view and we have over 1,000,000 people watching!!!  Who said chess was for geeks.  We have our very own part time fashion model in Magnus :D

Well it is now farewell London and Hello Liverpool

Thursday 9 December 2010

The London Chess Classic, Day 3

Today is going to be a real challenge.  I have to write a blog without swearing.  Every part of me wants to pick up one of the machines and smash it into 1,000,000 pieces.  It has really gone that badly today.  I am so grateful I am leaving tomorrow as I am not entirely convinced my nerves will take it.

The day started pleasantly enough.  My knee is sore and so I am using the stick. Got on the tube at about 9:15 am and several people stood up to give me their seats!!  Arrived at the venue and Dave and I repaired the problems that we had from the Womens and Open events from yesterday.  That took us nicely to lunchtime and a nice leisurely setup of the main boards for the championship event.  Play due to start at 4pm.

2pm and the website suddenly goes offline.  No web page means we have nowhere to put the live games to for the masses.  Live stream here is fine as it is local.

Games start on cue at 4pm, still no website.  I am nearly apoplectic with frustration.  Still have no loading information, still unable to make any prediction on what we need.  I am dreading tomorrow when 2 of the big 3 meet for the first time.  Hamsters will die in that server tomorrow.

Time now is 16:50, I have been here for a shade over 7 hours.  It feels like I have been here for about 30 minutes!  6 (ish) hours of play left, still no server.  Please give me the contact for the server helpdesk.  I have 3 hours of frustration to vent at them!

Well that is 20:15 and the godiddy.com servers are living up to their name.  Out in the distance came 2 shining white knights offering us somewhere to park the live games until the diddies at daddy get their collective fingers out of their rectums.  I'd love to name them but they are unknown to me.  You know who you are, all I can say is thanks for returning my sanity!

Wednesday 8 December 2010

The London Chess Classic, Day 2

I really don't remember being this nervous last year just before the event started.  In fact if I am honest, I was more nervous than when Eilidh and Euan were born.  That was more of an anticipation.  This is more raw terror.

Noon approaches.  Malcolm (the Big boss) approaches and asks if we can change the presentation so that when he mentions the death of John Lennon, a white board appears, when he mentions his Charity, Chess in Schools, a slide on that appears.  Sounds easy?  We also need it to roll seamlessly with the presentation we have already.  Quick think and I work out how to it.  Projector on extended mode (Windows 7 I love you) control on my screen and all is well.  Set up 2 presentations and launch the second when Malcolm starts speaking on topic.

It worked a treat:)  Unfortunately the next bit went horribly wrong.  Play starts and I am looking up at the huge projector screen from behind.  To my utmost horror, board 2. Luke McShane against Magnus Carlsen, the moves are not displaying!!

I am so grateful that a) I am an arbiter, b) I am quite good at opening theory c) We put webcams on boards 1 and 2 and d) I am at my best when you throw hand grenades at me.  Using a combination of all three (and a bit of the last one as well) I worked out the moves and we inputted them manually until  the board started behaving.

Panic over, now lets check on the other room.  In the festival hall, we have the Open and Ladies tournaments.  All games from the Ladies and the top 6 from the open are being broadcast, well they were until a one of the Ladies who shall rename nameless put a heavy handbag against the wall right onto a pivotal cable junction.  Murphy and his law stuck and despite considering a sacrifice to the Chess God, nothing could bring the Ladies tournament back.

I'll update later as the games finish

Time controls are a wonderful thing, they really make or break a player.  Today we saw the first (of hopefully many) shocks as the World Number 1, Magnus Carlsen  was beaten in 38 moves by Luke McShane.  If Vishy wins as his current position appears to be leading, we are going to be looking at the 4 winners playing the 4 losers tomorrow.

To complete the tales of woe, the server gave up in the middle of the games.  We are looking into what happened but preliminary analysis seems to be that ether one of the hamsters died or there are more people around the world who want to watch these matches than we thought.  I am trying to get detailed load information so I can work out how we are going to sort this one out.  Come to think of it, what is it always me who has to!

Tuesday 7 December 2010

The London Chess Classic, Day 1

Why is it when I want to sleep, my body laughs at me?

Must have been about 3 before I settled and 7am and my brain kicks into gear forcing me from my bed.  We have just pulled into Watford Junction, not bad given we are supposed to be in London 1 1/2 hours ago.

I just been served breakfast.  It is in 2 brown bags which worries me.  I feel sorry for the lassie who is our host as she has been given a hard time by most of the others.  Me I just slept.

I am finding it hard to resist the temptation of doing a re-enactment of the scene from Life of Brian as we have been passing a few commuter trains.  Must remember I am an adult now!!!!

The day went really well.  I arrived at the venue at 9am and spent the three hours to the press conference setting up my EOS 450D camera as a webcam!  It worked :)  Of course the downside was I could not get any pictures.  Ho Hum.

Set up went reasonably well. Dave and Steve (and Steve) were in very good spirits and we had a good laugh.  The set up was caught and published on the Chessbase Website (infamy at last) Oh No, they have me.  Try as we might, we could not get the display to appear on the projector.  After an hour of swapping cables, computers, lots of swearing...  We worked out we had forgotten to em, enable move recording.  How embarrassing!!!

Finished at 9pm and headed back to pizza and a comfortable bed.  Bliss :-)

The London Chess Classic, Day 0

To begin with, Gentle Reader, please go easy on me,  I have never done this before.

They day started with an "unpredicted" 6 hours of snow in the Glasgow / Edinburgh area.  Knowing our countries inability to deal with 1/2 an inch of snow (that is 1.25 cm for any sensible people out there), I knew this trip could be doomed form the start.

Mid day and I was at the town centre with my Chess and Eve widow.  my phone starts buzzing telling me there was a text message.  It was from the school.  We are closing for the day, please pick up your child.  No problem we thought, it is a leisurely  15 minute drive.

1 Hour later....  I ended up pushing the car into the scheme.  I also pushed 6 other cars up the hill (including a 4 x 4!).  I am now convinced that a stupidity test should be part of the driving test.

As the afternoon wore on, the snow finally decided to move south and annoy our neighbours in England.  A quick check of the laptop told me that by some miracle, the trains were on from EK.  I was astounded.  Quick plan with the wife, Have tea, then I'd walk the 3.1 miles to the station and get the train there. Get into Glasgow, stop for a few pints then catch the Sleeper as planned.

Karen was not overly happy with this but given I was going to walk into Glasgow if the trains had been off, she agreed, 7pm, I left. 

8:10 I made it to the station.  Got on a train and headed into Glasgow.

At 2am we finally boarded the sleeper train.  It was late as either the driver could not be bothered, the points were frozen or they needed a backup engine from Edinburgh (all three excuses were given).

Highlight of the night was about 1am when the train manager noticed that there was a group of passengers huddled together in the departure lounge.  All other trains had left about 90 mins previously.  He walked in and said "I didn't know you were all here".  My reply was a very quick, "Well where else would we be, the train is not here!.".  Spirits were good as there were a few of us who were cracking jokes. (mainly at the Virgin Staff for not having a Kettle